H-1 freeway closure causes Saturday traffic nightmare

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Many Oahu drivers sat in major traffic on the H-1 freeway on Saturday, Feb. 22.

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The traffic stemmed from the on-going H-1 Salt Lake Rehabilitation Paving Project, which requires three lanes to close in the eastbound direction near Kahuapaani Street and the Airport off-ramp.

However, DOT Director Ed Sniffen said the contractor mistakenly set up for a 24/7 closure of three lanes in the east bound direction before the Moanalua Freeway merge on Friday night.

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“The closure was supposed to start on the east side of the H-201 offramp, as you’re going on H1 going east bound towards the airport to allow people to go to H-201 or go to the airport area where we have limited lanes,” explained Director Sniffen. “What happened though was the contractor had set up the closure before the H-201 offramp which means we pushed everyone towards the lane closures we have out there, that wasn’t the plan.”

He said the DOT received numerous concerns and complaints throughout the day from the public and they worked on sending someone out to clear up the contractor error.

“Went out there to make sure we worked with the contractor to safely reset things and by 1 p.m. it was reset,” Sniffen said. “All the lanes are open again to get to H-201, but we still have closures on the airport side. That two to three lane closure is 24/7 on weekends to maximize use of the lanes during non-peak times so we don’t effect everyone during the week days.”

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DOT officials said the H1 East closure (past the Moanalua Freeway) for the Salt Lake Rehabilitation Paving Project, will take place during the weekends throughout the summer. With two right lanes closing at 6:30 p.m. Friday, a third lane closing at 8:30 p.m. Friday, and all lanes reopening again on Monday’s at 2:30 a.m.

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